My trip from Cochin, India to Jerusalem was a long and arduous journey through Bahrain and Amman, Jordan. Since I had an ten hour wait in Amman, I got a visa, hired a car and went into the city. It was the first time I experienced cold since China, and it was blustery and damp. The city was really quite nice although it does pale in comparison to Jerusalem, and it sure beat Cochin.
We drove around the city and saw some very nice upscale neighborhoods. I was told that government officials live in that area. I thought how funny that government people would be the ones with the money. Anyway after seeing the Roman ruins we tried to find money using my traveler's checks. After trying at least 15 money changers and finding no one willing to take traveler's checks I went to an ATM. I made the mistake of taking traveler's checks with me. It is much easier to go the ATM route the whole way. Next trip no traveler's checks.
When we ran out of things to do, we visited the driver's family at their apartment. It was a treat to go to a home of a family. There was a wife, three daughters, the oldest being eleven, and one son. We talked, I showed them pictures and we had tea and cookies. On the way back to the airport we went to a really wonderful restaurant where there was an assortment of fabulous mezzi with the best baba ganoush I have ever tasted, an assortment of other salads plus hummus. Had mixed Lamb grill with chops, meat and sausage with wonderful freshly baked pita type bread.
Then on to the airport for the 30-minute flight to Tel Aviv. Amman is the only connection to Tel Aviv for many Middle Eastern countries such as Kuwait.
The Scottish Church Guestouse, where I am staying, is very reasonable (which is unusual in Israel). The city and people are so vibrant. The guards that used to be outside every public place including every cafe seem to have disappeared. Life is laid back and normal. This is quite a change from four years ago when I was last here. The Israel Museum has been renovated and is a world class museum.
Yesterday I went to Vad Yashem the Holocaust Remembrance Memorial Museum. It traces the history of the Holocaust in chronological order. What an emotional experience. It is one of the few free places in Israel. The architecture is regal. The emphasis is on little mementos of everyday life the dead led before the outbreak of anti Antisemitism became lethal. There are photos of happy people getting married, having children, going on vacations, doing everyday things. There are reproductions of their homes, furniture and daily routines. Mostly they were just assimilated members of the societies of the countries they lived in. There are historical maps of the spread of the Nazis from Eastern Europe, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Morocco and the Soviet Union. There are historical films, pictures and news clips throughout the years as the Jews were denigrated in society and turned into to nonentities. Even if you were non-practicing or had converted you, were a Jew by race.
There were tourists from all over the world visiting plus many Israelis and Israeli soldiers. I will send more stuff later. Love it here in Jerusalem. Every time I come here to Jerusalem it is more beautiful
More later
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